Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation an Official Charity Partner of 2015 TCS New York City Marathon

The Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF) is pleased to announce that it is an Official Charity Partner of the 2015 TCS New York City Marathon. The ADDF invites runners who did not secure an individual spot in the 2015 TCS New York City Marathon to join its Runners for Alzheimer’s Research team on Sunday, November 1, 2015.

“The Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation is thrilled to partner with the TCS New York City Marathon as an official charity partner,” said Howard Fillit, MD, Founding Executive Director and Chief Science Officer. “The TCS New York City Marathon provides a powerful platform for our runners to shine a light on a cause that impacts 44 million people worldwide. We will support our runners throughout their memorable journeys as they work to completing this race, all while raising critical funds to accelerate the discovery of drugs to prevent, treat and cure Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.”

Nearly 300 official charity partners are expected to participate in the 2015 TCS New York City Marathon this year.

Founded in 1998 by Leonard A. and Ronald S. Lauder of the Estée Lauder cosmetics family, the ADDF provides critical seed funding to leading scientists conducting breakthrough drug discovery and development research for Alzheimer’s. Through the tremendous support of its donors, the ADDF has invested over $70 million to support 450 drug discovery programs in academic centers and biotechnology companies worldwide. Alzheimer’s disease is the only top 10 cause of death in the United States that cannot yet be prevented, slowed or cured.

Members of the ADDF’s Runners for Alzheimer’s Research team will play a critical role in advancing the foundation’s work to conquer Alzheimer’s disease. Team members will receive guaranteed entry into 2015 TCS New York City Marathon, a personal fundraising platform, opportunities to join team runs, tips and tools for fundraising, and more. The ADDF is proud to have Chris Johnson, son of former New York Giants running back Ron Johnson, as a key member of its 2015 team. In 2012, Johnson raised $83,422 for the ADDF while running in the International Malibu Marathon. Chris’s father, Ron, suffers from Alzheimer’s disease.

“We warmly welcome the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation as an official charity partner for the 2015 TCS New York City Marathon,” said Mary Wittenberg, President and CEO of New York Road Runners. “All of our participants are inspired to run for reasons significant and special to them, and we are especially appreciative of those who make a meaningful commitment to run on behalf of one of our official charity partners. We wish the best to all of these runners as they begin to plan and prepare for an experience of a lifetime.”

The 2015 TCS New York City Marathon will feature a talented American and international professional athlete field, charity runners and thousands of runners of all ages and abilities. More than 10,000 volunteers help to support participants across the 26.2-mile race route, which touches each of New York City’s five boroughs, and is lined with more than one million neighbors and guests. Last year, NYRR celebrated each of the 50,530 runners who crossed the finish line and made the 2014 TCS New York City Marathon the largest in the world, including the one-millionth finisher ever in the history of the event. The 2015 TCS New York City Marathon will air live locally on ABC7 and nationally on ESPN2.